Herschel Park
| Herschel Park | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
 | |
| Type | Local Nature Reserve |
| Location | Slough, Berkshire |
| OS grid | SU 977 790 |
| Area | 4.2 hectares (10 acres) |
| Managed by | Slough Borough Council |
Herschel Park is a public park in Upton, a suburb of Slough in Berkshire. It is owned and managed by Slough Borough Council. It is in two adjacent areas. The larger area of 4.2-hectare (10-acre) in the north is a Local Nature Reserve.[1][2] The more formal area in the north is a Grade II listed park.[3]
Geography and site
[edit]The parkland has two lakes and ponds.[4] The larger lake features an island planted with mature trees.[5] The park also features a set of mature specimen and ornamental trees.[6]
History
[edit]The park has been in existence from at least 1843, when James Bedborough bought the land in the area and used it to build twenty-nine terraced houses and large villas that looked out over the park.[7] It is believed that Sir Joseph Paxton laid out the original park grounds.[7] The park when opened was called Upton Park.[8]
In 1949, the park was sold to Slough Borough Council.[9] In 1952 the council changed its name from Upton Park Pleasure Grounds to Herschel Park, after the astronomer Sir William Herschel.[10] In 1962–63, Slough Corporation purchased a further 10 acres from Eton College, which by 1982 had become part of Herschel Park.[10]
In 2000, the water in the lakes suddenly disappeared, and a group was set up called Friends of Herschel Park, who together with Slough Borough Council started to apply for funds to return the park to its original Victorian design.[11] In January 2009 the park was granted £2.7 million of council and lottery funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund.[9] In 2011 work was finished; the lakes were refilled with water, and the original paths were restored.[9]
In 2013, the site was declared as a local nature reserve by Slough Borough Council.[1]
Fauna
[edit]The site has the following fauna:[6][12][13]
Mammals
[edit]Invertebrates
[edit]- Gerridae
- Comma butterfly
- Araneus diadematus
- Stag beetle
- Six-spot burnet
- Chorthippus parallelus
- Meadow brown
- Libellula depressa
Birds
[edit]- European green woodpecker
- Mandarin duck
- Mallard
- Canada goose
- Common blackbird
- Eurasian blue tit
- European robin
- Cetti's warbler
- Common kestrel
- Moorhen
- Egyptian goose
- Great spotted woodpecker
- Song thrush
Amphibians & reptiles
[edit]Flora
[edit]The site has the following flora:[6][12][13][14][15][16]
Trees
[edit]- Fraxinus excelsior
- Cedrus deodara
- Aesculus hippocastanum
- Taxodium distichum
- Quercus robur
- Quercus ilex
- Lucombe oak
- Turkey oak
- Araucaria araucana
- Taxus baccata
- Ilex aquifolium
Plants
[edit]- Galanthus nivalis
- Myosotis
- Papaver rhoeas
- Leucanthemum vulgare
- Lotus corniculatus
- Centaurea nigra
- Mentha aquatica
- Lychnis flos-cuculi
- Caltha palustris
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Herschel Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Map of Herschel Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Herschel Park (formerly Upton Park)". Historic England. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Herschel Park - Slough Borough Council". Slough.gov.uk. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ "Herschel Park". Parksandgardens.org. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ a b c "THE HERSCHEL NATURAL HISTORY TRAIL GUIDE" (PDF). Slough Borough Council. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Herschel Park (formerly Upton Park)". Sloughhistoryonline.org.uk. 1 October 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ Park lifeBy Linda Serck (13 November 2014). "Berkshire - Places - Park life". BBC. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ a b c "BBC - Slough's Grade II listed park to return to former glory". BBC News. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ a b "THE HERSCHEL PARK HISTORY TRAIL GUIDE" (PDF). Slough Borough Council. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ "Restoration of Herschel Park". Friendsofherschelpark.org. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ a b "The Herschel Park Tree-mendous Tree Trail Map" (PDF). Slough Borough Council. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Herschel Park Natural History". Friendsofherschelpark.org. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ "Herschel Park Arboretum - Postcards from Slough". Postcards-from-slough.co.uk. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ "THE HERSCHEL PARK TREE TRAIL GUIDE" (PDF). Slough Borough Council. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ "Herschel Park - Postcards from Slough". Postcards-from-slough.co.uk. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.